Meg lost

Years ago I lost Meg on the main road......

See below..this is what I would use if I had a garden 

Should You Install a DIY Electric Fence for Your Dog?....this made me think cos of something that happened to Meg a few years ago.....she escaped from the garden and ended up a few inches from the main road at rush hour .
Welsh terriers have no road sense btw

Keeping your dog on your property is the best way to ensure their safety. If you have a large yard, your dog benefits from being able to run and roam around it to their heart’s content. In order to allow them this freedom with maximum safety measures in place, you need to fence in your yard with either a traditional fence or an electronic dog fence. If you opt to use an electronic containment system, a DIY electric fence is the least expensive way to do it - it can save you thousands of dollars as compared to a professionally installed fence (electronic or not). Before you purchase a system, however, here are some of the things to keep in mind. 

Is a DIY Electric Fence Right for Your Dog?

The convenience and unobtrusiveness of an electronic dog fence are some of its potential benefits, but its most important purpose is to keep your dog safe. As such, the first thing you must consider is whether or not an electric fence is right for your dog. Most dogs will do well with an electric fence, especially dogs who are already well-trained. Dogs who are determined escape artists, like those who enjoy digging underneath the fence, are particularly great candidates for the use of an underground dog fence, because it’s more effective at keeping them contained than a traditional fence. 

Some dogs, however, should not be trained with an electronic dog fence. If your dog is pregnant, younger than six-months-old, physically disabled, or chronically ill, it is not recommended that you use an e-collar system with them. Also, aggressive dogs should not be contained with an electric dog fence as the only barrier around your property. An underground dog fence only offers one-way containment, so people and animals can potentially enter your yard. Because aggressive dogs can be dangerous in the right circumstances, you don’t want to risk it. The best way to keep aggressive dogs contained is to use both an underground dog fence and a high traditional fence with no gaps. 

What Goes Into Installing a Dog Fence?

You can install your own electric dog fence as a weekend project, even if you have little to no DIY experience. The average time it takes, including planning and breaks, is about 10 hours, and the process is not too labor intensive. Once you’ve planned the layout, mounted the transmitter box to the wall, and laid and spliced the wire, the next step of burying the wire is the most physically demanding, unless you opt to use a trencher. Connecting and testing the system is fairly simple, even if there is a break in the wire you need to find and fix. 

The key to successfully installing your own electronic dog fence is to plan carefully. Read the entire instruction manual before you begin. Online instructions and videos can also help make the process easier. Understand what you need to accomplish before you begin, or you could run into unexpected challenges that will eat up time. Part of the planning requirements is to call your local utility company so that they come and mark underground utility lines in your yard; be sure to call a few days before you want to install because you cannot dig safely without doing so. 

How is a Dog Trained on an Electric Dog Fence?

Once your system is up and running smoothly, it’s time to train your dog. This is the most important part, because your electric fence will be useless if your dog doesn’t understand the expectations that come with it. You will train your dog three times a day, 15 minutes each, for two weeks. You begin by marking the boundaries with flags and walking your dog around them. You’ll teach your dog that when they get too close to the perimeter, a warning tone from their e-collar will tell them to turn and retreat. If they don’t retreat, they’ll experience the corrective shock. They’ll learn that the only way to avoid the corrective shock is to observe the boundaries. 

In order to effectively train your dog, you must follow the training instructions exactly. Again it’s important to read through all the instructions and understand them before you begin. If your dog isn’t properly trained, they’ll feel the corrective shock on a regular basis and end up fearing to go outside. If you cannot commit to three 15-minute training sessions per day, then do not get an electronic dog fence. Consistent, adequate training is absolutely essential to safe, proper use. 

Which Containment System Should You Choose?

There are many different electronic dog fence systems on the market, and it can seem like a daunting task to choose the best one for your dog. However, online comparison charts and reviews of wired and wireless dog fence systems can help you make an informed decision. Different systems have different size capacities, so you’ll need to know the total area of your yard (or the area you want to enclose). If you have more than one dog, you’ll also need to choose a system that can support the appropriate number of e-collars. If your dogs are different sizes, you’ll need e-collars that have adjustable correction levels. 

Beyond those important specifications, there are other features you can choose from. For example, some e-collars have remote training capabilities, where you can correct unwanted behavior, such as barking or digging. If the electricity is prone to go out where you live, you probably want to choose a system that has a battery backup. Carefully reviewing the features of each electronic dog fence will help ensure you choose the best system for your dog and yard. With a little research and careful planning, you and your dog will be happy and content with the installation of your new electric fence. 

If you need help installing a DIY electric fence, check out the detailed instructions, FAQ’s, and videos at DogFenceDIY, our partners in electronic containment education.